Logistics simulator

ABSTRACT

A graphical user interface devices, methods, and systems for creating and editing a simulation model and for presenting the simulation model simulated within a scenario are provided. The device includes a first component that allows a user to enter and edit platforms and associated attributes for the simulation model. Commodities can be entered, edited via a second component, or assigned to a platform via a third component. A directory structure includes an organizational units and platform directory structures. The platform directory structures store platform information based on platform type. Platforms, commodities, or scenario aspects can be reviewed and edited using a graphical user interface. The present invention provides an output for allowing a user to view commodity usage at any desired aspect of the simulation model. The simulation model is created using a simulation reference modeling language.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to computer-implementedsimulation systems and methods, and more particularly to logisticsimulation systems, methods, and graphical user interfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Simulation is a process that attempts to predict aspects of the behaviorof a system by creating an approximate, typically mathematical, model ofthe system. Computers provide an ideal environment for buildingsimulations.

Simulators have many uses. For example, businesses use simulations todevelop optimized processes such as staffing decisions or inventorymanagement. Simulations also lower the risks associated with criticaldecisions by enabling analysis of influences to a system output.Engineers also use simulations to prototype and test designs.

However, simulations require an investment in tools, time, and people.Simulation tools can include spreadsheets, programming languages, andfull-featured commercial simulation packages. Each of the currentlyavailable simulation tools have associated tradeoffs. Spreadsheets, forexample, offer low purchase cost, but limited built-in functionality.Similarly, traditional programming languages provide maximumflexibility, but can require much time and skill to maintain andoperate.

Both spreadsheets and programming languages can require extensiveprogramming, and spreadsheets can be too slow for complex situationmodeling where thousands of items are required to be simulated.General-purpose commercial simulation tools provide sophisticatedbuilt-in capabilities combined with graphical development environments,which may save time, but can also be very expensive. The initial priceof general-purpose commercial simulation tools and/or licenses for suchtools can run into tens of thousands of dollars per year. Suchcommercial simulation tools exist for specific applications such assupply chain management, resource management, manufacturing, andscience.

All of these simulation tools have additional drawbacks. For instance,tool vendors can go out of business or be purchased by larger firms whosignificantly modify or discontinue a product line. The simulation toolsmay also not scale to handle highly sophisticated business processes. Inaddition, the programming languages underlying the tools can be obscureenough that the learning curve becomes high, and only a few peoplewithin a given organization become skilled in their use. Anotherdrawback to currently available simulation tools is that there are nowidely adopted standards for interchanging simulations developed indifferent tools, making it difficult to reuse the same simulationmodels.

Conventional simulation tools that support parallel processing ordistribution are often not general-purpose, are very expensive, orrequire extremely advance programming in order to realize theirpotential. Further, without simulation support software, simulationsdeveloped in programming languages can lead to awkward programming. Evenwith a simulation engine, programming language solutions do not usuallyprovide a natural way of describing hundreds or thousands ofinter-connected objects of various types. Using traditional databasemanagement systems to store objects typically leads to simulations thatrun too slowly for practical use.

Simulations also inherently pose computing challenges. For example,simulations typically need to represent large numbers of inter-relatedobjects in relationship to each other, and need to manipulate theseobjects at high speeds. Thus, unlike a traditional business program, asimulation may require a large amount of computing speed and memory. Dueto the iterative process of simulation, modelers and other users need away to easily repeat a simulation run with varying random number seedsand must be able to combine the results. Likewise, modelers need theability to repeat simulation runs while systematically varying one ormore parameters. Users of simulations also desire the ability to watch,freeze, reverse, and snapshot a simulation.

Thus, there exists a need for a low cost, easy to program,platform-independent, reusable, standards-based, and graphics-basedsimulation system and method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A graphical user interface devices, methods, and systems for creatingand editing a simulation model and for presenting the simulation modelthat is simulated within a scenario are provided. In one embodiment, thegraphical user interface device allows a user to easily change asimulation model and review various results of an executed simulationmodel.

The device includes a first component that allows a user to enter andedit platforms and associated attributes. The platforms are determinedto be included within the simulation model. A second component allows auser to enter and edit commodities and a third component allows a userto assign or remove a commodity to or from a platform. A directorystructure includes a plurality of organizational units and platformdirectory structures. Each organizational unit is associated with aplatform determined to be included within the model to be simulated. Theplatform directory structures store platform information based onplatform type.

In one aspect of the invention, a fourth component allows a user tocreate and edit a scenario and to add, delete, or view a pulseassociated with the scenario. In another aspect of the invention, thefourth component allows a user to add or delete a platform to or from apulse. In a further aspect of the invention, the fourth component allowsa user to add, delete, or view a segment associated with a pulse.

In still another aspect of the invention, the first component allows auser to define or edit attributes of a platform based on at least one ofa segment or a pulse.

In still a further aspect of the invention, a commodities output areaallows a user to present commodity usage information. The commoditiesoutput area includes a commodities usage list configured to presentcommodity usage information of a platform, group of platforms, ororganizational unit selected in the directory structure. The commoditiesoutput area includes a graph for presenting commodity usage over timebased on one of the selected operational unit, platform, or group ofplatforms from the directory structure and a commodity selected from thecommodities output area.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the simulation model is createdusing a simulation reference modeling language.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary computer based systemfor executing software formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary process performed bythe software executed by the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-9 are graphical user interfaces generated by the softwareexecuted on the system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a general purpose computer 20 for running simulationoperations and generating graphical user interfaces allowing users tointerpret output of the simulation operations. The system 20 includes aprocessor 24 in wired or wireless communication with an input device 26,memory 28, and a display device 30. The input device 26 includes a userinterface, such as a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or other types ofinput devices that allow interaction with a graphical user interfaceapplication program. It will be appreciated that the components of thesystem 20 may be distributed over a network and that multiplecomputer-based systems may be coupled to the system 20 over a public orprivate data network.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary process 80 is performed by asimulation application program executed by the system 20 (FIG. 1). At ablock 86, a user assesses logistics requirements for a simulationoperation. At a block 88, the user identifies all changeable andnonchangeable platforms and commodities included within the assessedsimulation operation. Commodities may be any expendable supply orconcept. The logistics requirements include operational events that usethe platforms in various ways.

At a block 90, a simulation model is created based on the assessedlogistic requirements and the identified platforms and commodities. Theuser (i.e., a simulation model creator) generates the simulation modelusing a simulation programming language, such as that described inco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/865,293, filed May 25,2001, titled Simulation System and Method, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference. The generated simulation modelincludes initial values and quantities associated with the changeableplatforms and quantities. The initial values and quantities aredetermined by the simulation model creator according to the assessedlogistics requirements.

At a block 92, an end user reviews and edits, as desired, quantities orother values (attributes) associated with the changeable platforms andcommodities. For example, a truck is a platform and miles per gallon andpayload carrying capabilities are attributes of the truck. An end user(i.e., person running the simulation model and reviewing the results)may change the miles per gallon, if the truck platform is replaced witha more efficient truck. At a block 93, any edits are saved in the memory28.

At a block 94, the simulation model is executed. At a block 98, the userinterface presents the results of the executed simulation model on thedisplay device 30. At a block 100, the user selects a platform or groupof platforms for viewing associated results. The results presentcommodities usage over the period of time of the executed simulationmodel (i.e., the simulation).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example simulation application graphical userinterface window produced by a windows-based application program 120 forallowing a user to enter desired platform and commodity values prior torunning a simulation model within a scenario. In this example thescenario is titled Caspian 3-day, which represents a 72 hour militarycombat mission. All platforms of the simulation model perform accordingto the scenario.

The window 120 is suitably produced in the windows based operatingsystem. The window 120 includes a set of pull-down menus 122.

In order to edit attributes of commodities, a commodities function isselected from the pull-down menus 122, which presents an editcommodities window 124. The edit commodities window 124 includes apull-down commodity field 126 that allows a user to select frompreviously defined commodities. The edit commodities window 124 alsoincludes a pull-down container field 128 that allows the user to selectfrom predefined containers associated with the commodity presented inthe commodity field 126. Adjacent to each of the fields 126 and 128 areNew buttons 130. Upon selecting a respective New button 130, the usercan add a new commodity or new container into the simulation model.

The edit commodities window 124 also includes a review button 132 that,when selected, presents a review commodities window 136. The reviewcommodities window 136 includes a commodity and container section 138that presents the commodity and container that are presented in the editcommodities window 124. The review commodities window 136 also includesan attribute section 140 that presents all the changeable attributesthat are associated with the displayed commodity and container presentedin the commodity and container section 138. The attribute section 140presents just changeable attributes, but may also present non-changeableattributes in order to show a user other attributes associated with acommodity and container. The review commodities window 136 also includesan Accept button 142 that, when selected, accepts all the values thathave been presented or changed within the fields of the attributesection 140.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a review configurations window 150 is presentedupon selection of the review configurations command presented in thepull-down menus 122 or as accessible by another interface associatedwith the window 120. The review configurations window 150 includes aplatform type pull-down field 152 that allows a user to select frompre-defined platforms. A New Type button 156 is located adjacent to thefield 152 that, when selected, allows the user to enter a new platformtype. Located below the field 152 is a platform configuration pull-downfield 154 that allows a user to select from previously definedconfigurations of the platform type presented in the field 152. Adjacentto the field 154 is a New Config (configuration) button 158 that whenselected allows the user to enter a new configuration for the platformpresented in the field 152. The review configurations window 150 alsoincludes a Review Config (configuration) button 160 that, whenactivated, presents a detailed configurations window 168.

The detailed configuration window 168 includes a platform section 170, adetail section 172, an associated commodities section 176, and an acceptbutton 186. The platform section 170 presents the platform type andconfiguration name identified in the review configurations window 150.The detail section 172 presents changeable attributes of the platform.The commodities section 176 includes a presentation window 178 thatpresents all the commodities associated with the platform identified inthe platform section 170. The commodities section 176 also includes aNew Commodity button 180 that when activated allows a user to associatea new commodity with the identified platform. A Remove Commodity button182 is also included within the commodities section 176. The RemoveCommodity button 182, when selected, removes a commodity that ishighlighted or called out within the presentation window 178. When theAccept button 186 is activated all the values indicated within thesections of the detailed configuration window 168 are accepted andstored within the simulation model.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a scenarios window 200 is presented uponselection of an associated function within the pull-down menus 122 or byanother activation method associated with the application program 120.The scenarios window 200 includes a scenario identifier section 204, apulse section 206, a platform section 210, and a segment section 212. Inthis example, the scenario is titled Caspian 3-day, as identified in thescenario section 204. The scenarios window 200 allows the user to viewvarious operational requirements of all the platforms at various stagesof the scenario. The stages or pulses of the scenario and theoperational requirements or segments of the pulse are all previouslydefined by an assessment of the logistic requirements of the operationthat is to be simulated in this application program. The pulse section206 includes a pulse window 224 that presents the pulses associated withthe scenario. Adjacent to the pulse window 224 are an Add button that,when activated, allows the addition of a pulse, a Delete button that,when activated, allows deletion of a selected pulse, and a View buttonthat, when activated, presents a window for viewing details of a pulsethat is selected in the pulse window 224. The platform section 210includes a platform window 226 that presents all the platforms that areassociated with the pulse that is highlighted within the pulse window224. The segment section 212 includes a segment window 228 that suitablypresents in a scroll-down window all the segments associated with theplatform highlighted or suitably distinguished in the platform window226 as associated with the selected pulse. Adjacent to the segmentwindow 228 are Add, Delete, and View buttons that allow addition,deletion, and viewing of a segment highlighted within the segment window228, respectively. In this example, a user has highlighted the center ofgravity pulse in the pulse window 224, the ICV platform in the platformwindow 226, and the primary offense segment in segment window 228.

Upon activation of the view button in the segment section 212, a viewsegment window 230 is presented. The view segment window 230 includes asegment name field 232 that identifies the segment name that is selectedin the segment section 212. A platform type field 234 presents theselected platform from the platform section 210, but also allows theuser to select any of the other platform types that are associated withthe pulse that is selected in the pulse section 206. The view segmentwindow 230 also includes other attributes, previously defined duringlogistics assessment, that are associated with or required in theprimary offense segment. The view segment window 230 also includes anAccept button 236 that, when activated, accepts the attributes withinthe view segment window 230.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate the windows-based application program 120 after thesimulation has been run according to the scenario. Referring now to FIG.6, the windows-based application program 120 presents a logisticstructure section 306, a chart section 316, a graph section 318, aglobal settings identifier section 310, and a water consumption section312. The logistics structure section 306 presents a directory structureof the model being simulated. In one embodiment the directory structureis presented in a similar manner as file folders are presented inWindows Explorer. In this example, a Brigade is the highest entity inthe directory structure and all the entities below it are subcommands.The subcommands may or may not include even further subcommands and theassociated platforms of those subcommands. The directory structure canbe as complex as needed in order to properly portray the logistics modelbeing simulated. For example, a Combined Arms Battalion (CAB) command330 includes 186 platforms that all report to the Brigade. Not only isthe data organized by what command each platform reports to and what(sub)commands the (sub)commands report to, but is also organized by justthe platform types within a command. For example, Platforms 320 includesall 33 platforms of the Infantry command 322. The Infantry command 322includes subcommands HQ and 3 Platoons. Each Platoon includes 10platforms each and the HQ includes 3, thereby totaling 33 platforms. Onecan review the performance of each platform type in each individualsubcommand or can review performance of all the platforms within thesubcommand.

The chart section 316 includes a status area 332 and an effectivenessarea 334. The status area 332 presents status of commodities associatedwith a highlighted item (command or platform(s)) from the logisticsstructure section 306 as it relates to all the platforms that are usingthose commodities within the selected item. The status of commodities isthe status after running of the simulation with regards to the scenario.The status area 332 includes a circle chart 338 that is partitioned intoquadrants for each commodity (Personnel 340, Water 342, POL (Petroleum,Oil, & Lubricants or fuel) 344, and Ammo (Ammunition) 346) and a statuslist 350 that presents the percentage of the commodities available atthe end of the simulation. In this example, the CAB command 330 has beenselected. The total results of all the commodities expended/used by allthe platforms within the CAB command 330 are presented in the statuslist 350. The effectiveness area 334 includes a circle chart 360 withassociated text that indicates whether any problems exist. Based onuser-defined parameters, the effectiveness area 334 shows to whatpercentage of preparedness the platform or group of platforms ismission-worthy (by commodity) to begin another tasking or scenario. Theeffectiveness area 334 can be viewed from individual platform level orany grouping of platforms or level within the organizational tree.

The graph section 318 includes a commodity percentage versus time graph380 of a commodity that has been selected by a user operating the inputdevice 26 (FIG. 1) in the status section 316 or by another selectionmeans. The commodity percentage versus time graph 380 spans the time ofthe simulation and illustrates percentage quantities of the associatedcommodity through the operational time of the scenario. With regards tothis example, when a user has selected the Water 342 in the circle chart338, water usage results are presented within the graph 380 in real-timeor near real-time. Also presented within the graph section 318 is atotal replenishment time 370 that indicates total amount of time overthe model run (expressed in hours) that it took to re-supply allplatforms represented in the model with water, fuel, and ammo. Thisparticular view is a roll up of all platforms but can be viewed byplatform type, or organizational structure as well.

The water consumption section 312 includes water generation rateconsumption and run length. Run length is the identified operationaltime for the scenario. In this display, the water consumption section312 is expressed on a post model run report document. The waterconsumption section 312 provides a convenient reminder of the inputsettings defined in the setup of the model for the commodities listed.There is a different screen for each of the commodities in the model.

The global setting identifier section 310 indicates the scenario inaccordance with which simulation is run.

In this embodiment, the color of the items within the chart section 316is indicative of the status shown in the status list 350. When thepercentage value of the commodity is within a certain range, then acertain color is presented adjacent to the commodity within thecommodity list 350 and within the respective quadrant of the circlechart 338. The effectiveness circle chart 360 also presents distinctcolors when the effectiveness drops below a threshold value.

FIG. 7 illustrates the windows-based application program 120 with aPlatforms 400 selected from the logistic structure section 306. Inaddition, the user has selected the POL 406 from a circle chart 408,thereby causing presentation of, in this example, fuel percentage usageover time in a time graph 410. The fuel usage indicates fuel usage ofall the platforms included within the selected Platforms 400. ThePlatforms 400 identifies all the platforms under the CAB command 330(FIG. 6). The time graph 410 illustrates fuel consumption over the runtime of the simulation in the scenario. Also the effectiveness area 334indicates any problems associated with fuel usage for all of theplatforms associated with the Platform 400—all 186 platforms.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the user has selected an Infantry CombatVehicle (ICV) 420 from the directory structure. The ICV 420 includes allthe ICVs of the Brigade. In other words, the user desires to seeinformation that relates to all the ICVs of the Brigade. Upon selectionof the Water 424 in the status area 428, water consumption andreplenishment over time are illustrated in a commodities usage versustime graph 426.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the user has selected the POL 430 from thestatus area 428, thereby presenting fuel consumption and replenishmentover time for all the ICVs of the Brigade.

Therefore, after running the simulation for a particular scenario, theuser can view and analyze commodity consumption of virtually anyplatform or group of platforms by themselves or within any of thecommands or subcommands. It will also be appreciated that the directorystructure of the original simulation model can be manipulated and thenre-run for the same scenario in order to assess different aspects orchanges made to a simulation model.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, as noted above, many changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferredembodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely byreference to the claims that follow.

1. A computer readable media storing computer readable instructionsthat, when executed by a computer processor, provide a graphical userinterface input device for creating and editing a simulation model, thedevice comprising: a first component configured to enter and edittransportation platforms and associated attributes, wherein thetransportation platforms have been determined to be included within thesimulation model; a second component configured to enter and editcommodities, wherein commodities are one or more of water, personnel,POL and ammo; and a third component configured to perform one ofassigning or removing a commodity to or from a transportation platform.2. The computer readable media of claim 1, further comprising a fourthcomponent configured to create and edit a scenario.
 3. The computerreadable media of claim 2, wherein the fourth component furthercomprises a fifth component configured to add a pulse to the scenario.4. The computer readable media of claim 3, wherein the fourth componentfurther comprises a sixth component configured to delete a pulse fromthe scenario.
 5. The computer readable media of claim 4, wherein thefourth component further comprises a seventh component configured toview details of a pulse associated with the scenario.
 6. The computerreadable media of claim 3, wherein the fourth component includes a sixthcomponent configured to add a transportation platform to a pulse.
 7. Thecomputer readable media of claim 3, wherein the fourth componentincludes a sixth component configured to delete a transportationplatform from a pulse.
 8. The computer readable media of claim 3,wherein the fourth component further includes a sixth componentconfigured to add a segment to a pulse.
 9. The computer readable mediaof claim 8, wherein the fourth component further includes a seventhcomponent configured to delete a segment from a pulse.
 10. The computerreadable media of claim 9, wherein the fourth component further includesan eighth component configured to view details of a segment.
 11. Thecomputer readable media of claim 8, wherein the first component isfurther configured to perform one of define or edit attributes of atransportation platform based on at least one of a segment or a pulse.12. The computer readable media of claim 1, wherein the simulation modelis created using a simulation reference modeling language.
 13. Acomputer readable media containing computer readable instructions that,when executed by a computer processor, provide a graphical userinterface output device for presenting a directory structure for alogistics model, the directory structure comprising: a plurality oforganizational units, wherein each organizational unit is organized bythe command organization to which each organizational unit reports; andone or more transportation platform directory structures, wherein eachtransportation platform is organized by the organizational unit thateach transportation platform reports.
 14. The computer readable media ofclaim 13, further comprising a commodities output area configured topresent commodity usage information.
 15. The computer readable media ofclaim 14, wherein the commodities output area includes a commoditiesusage list configured to present commodity usage information of one of atransportation platform, group of transportation platforms, ororganizational unit selected in the directory structure.
 16. Thecomputer readable media of claim 15, wherein the commodities output areaincludes a component configured to present effectiveness information.17. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the commoditiesoutput area further includes a graph for presenting commodity usage overtime based on one of the selected operational unit, transportationplatform, or group of transportation platforms from the directorystructure and a commodity selected from the commodities output area. 18.The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the commodities outputarea includes a color component configured to display a color patchadjacent to commodity usage information, wherein the color componentpresents a color based on commodity usage in the simulation model.
 19. Acomputer readable media containing computer readable instructions that,when executed by a computer processor, provide a graphical userinterface device for creating and editing a simulation model andpresenting the simulation model run within a scenario, the devicecomprising: a first component configured to enter and edittransportation platforms and associated attributes, wherein thetransportation platforms have been determined to be included within thesimulation model; a second component configured to enter and editcommodities; a third component configured to perform one of assigning orremoving a commodity to or from a transportation platform; and adirectory structure including: a plurality of organizational units,wherein each organizational unit is organized by the commandorganization to which each organizational unit reports; and one or moretransportation platform directory structures, wherein eachtransportation platform is organized by the organizational unit thateach transportation platform reports to.
 20. The computer readable mediaof claim 19, further comprising a fourth component configured to createand edit a scenario.
 21. The computer readable media of claim 20,wherein the fourth component further comprises a fifth componentconfigured to add a pulse to the scenario.
 22. The computer readablemedia of claim 21, wherein the fourth component further comprises asixth component configured to delete a pulse from the scenario.
 23. Thecomputer readable media of claim 22, wherein the fourth componentfurther comprises a seventh component configured to view details of apulse associated with the scenario.
 24. The computer readable media ofclaim 21, wherein the fourth component includes a sixth componentconfigured to add a transportation platform to a pulse.
 25. The computerreadable media of claim 21, wherein the fourth component includes asixth component configured to delete a transportation platform from apulse.
 26. The computer readable media of claim 21, wherein the fourthcomponent further includes a sixth component configured to add a segmentto a pulse.
 27. The computer readable media of claim 26, wherein thefourth component further includes a seventh component configured todelete a segment from a pulse.
 28. The computer readable media of claim27, wherein the fourth component further includes an eighth componentconfigured to view details of a segment.
 29. The computer readable mediaof claim 26, wherein the first component is further configured toperform one of define or edit attributes of a transportation platformbased on at least one of a segment or a pulse.
 30. The computer readablemedia of claim 19, further comprising a commodities output areaconfigured to present commodity usage information.
 31. The computerreadable media of claim 30, wherein the commodities output area includesa commodities usage list configured to present the commodity usageinformation of one of a transportation platform, group of transportationplatforms, or organizational unit selected in the directory structure.32. The computer readable media of claim 31, wherein the commoditiesoutput area includes a component configured to present effectivenessinformation.
 33. The computer readable media of claim 32, wherein thecommodities output area further includes a graph for presentingcommodity usage over time based on one or the selected operational unit,transportation platform, or group of transportation platforms from thedirectory structure and a commodity selected from the commodities outputarea.
 34. The computer readable media of claim 33, wherein thecommodities output area includes a color component configured to displaya color patch adjacent to commodity usage information, wherein the colorcomponent presents a color based an commodity usage in the simulationmodel.
 35. The computer readable media of claim 19, wherein thesimulation model is created using a simulation reference modelinglanguage.
 36. A method for presenting a logistics model for a simulatedwarfare operation, the method comprising: presenting a directorystructure comprising: a plurality of organizational units, wherein eachorganizational unit is organized by the command organization to whichthe organizational unit reports to; and one or more transportationplatform directory structures, wherein each transportation platform isorganized by the organizational unit that each transportation platformreports.
 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising presentingcommodity usage information.
 38. The method of claim 37, whereinpresenting commodity usage information includes presenting commodityusage information of one of a transportation platform, group oftransportation platforms, or organizational unit selected in thedirectory structure.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein presentingcommodity usage information includes presenting effectivenessinformation.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein presenting commodityusage information includes presenting commodity usage over time based onone of the selected operational unit, transportation platform, or groupof transportation platforms from the directory structure and a commodityselected from the commodities output area.
 41. The method of claim 40,wherein presenting commodity usage information includes displaying acolor patch adjacent to commodity usage information based on commodityusage in the simulation model.
 42. A computer system comprising: aprocessor for executing a logistics model for a simulated warfareoperation; a display device coupled to the processor, the display deviceconfigured to display a directory structure comprising: a plurality oforganizational units, wherein each organizational unit is organized bythe command organization to which each organizational unit reports; andone or more transportation platform directory structures, wherein eachtransportation platform is organized by the organizational unit thateach transportation platform reports to.
 43. The system of claim 42,wherein the display device is further configured to display acommodities output area configured to present commodity usageinformation.
 44. The system of claim 43, wherein the commodities outputarea includes a commodities usage list configured to present commodityusage information of one of a transportation platform, group oftransportation platforms, or organizational unit selected in thedirectory structure.
 45. The system of claim 44, wherein the commoditiesoutput area includes a component configured to present effectivenessinformation.
 46. The system of claim 45, wherein the commodities outputarea further includes a graph for presenting commodity usage over timebased on one of the selected operational unit, transportation platform,or group of transportation platforms from the directory structure and acommodity selected from the commodities output area.
 47. The system ofclaim 46, wherein the commodities output area includes a color componentconfigured to display a color patch adjacent to commodity usageinformation, wherein the color component presents a color based oncommodity usage in the simulation model.
 48. The system of claim 42,wherein the simulation model is created using a simulation referencemodeling language.